Srila Prabhupada Gives Diksa Through His Books – 10,000 Years

Srila Prabhupada: I will live forever from my books and you will utilise.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.2.31 Purport (numbers 1-5 added – see below):

“One can achieve the seed of bhakti-latā, devotional service, by the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa. (1)The duty of the guru is to find the means, according to the time, the circumstances and the candidate, by which one can be induced to render devotional service, which Kṛṣṇa accepts from a candidate who wants to be successful in going back home, back to Godhead. After wandering throughout the universe, a fortunate person within this material world seeks shelter of such a guru, or ācārya, who trains the devotee in the suitable ways to render service according to the circumstances so that the Supreme Personality of Godhead will accept the service. This makes it easier for the candidate to reach the ultimate destination. The ācārya’s duty, therefore, is to find the means by which devotees may render service according to references from śāstra. Rūpa Gosvāmī, for example, in order to help subsequent devotees, published such devotional books as Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. (2)Thus it is the duty of the ācārya to publish books that will help future candidates take up the method of service and become eligible to return home, back to Godhead, by the mercy of the Lord.(3)In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, this same path is being prescribed and followed.(4)Thus the devotees have been advised to refrain from four sinful activities—illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling—and to chant sixteen rounds a day. These are bona fide instructions. Because in the Western countries constant chanting is not possible, one should not artificially imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura, but should follow this method. (5)Kṛṣṇa will accept a devotee who strictly follows the regulative principles and the method prescribed in the various books and literatures published by the authorities.The ācārya gives the suitable method for crossing the ocean of nescience by accepting the boat of the Lord’s lotus feet, and if this method is strictly followed, the followers will ultimately reach the destination, by the grace of the Lord. This method is called ācārya-sampradāya. It is therefore said, sampradāya-vihīnā ye mantrās te niṣphalā matāḥ (Padma Purāṇa). The ācārya-sampradāya is strictly bona fide.”

The following points may be taken from this purport.

(1) Srila Prabhupada prescribes the methods, according to the time and circumstances of the candidate, by which they can go back to Godhead.

(2) Future candidates in the movement can become eligible (make advancement) to return home, back to Godhead by taking up the method of service prescribed in Srila Prabhupada’s books.

(3) The process of going back to Godhead through the methods prescribed in Srila Prabhupada’s books is prescribed and followed in Srila Prabhupada’s movement.

(4) In his books Srila Prabhupada prescribes 16 rounds and 4 regulated principles as the method to be followed by the society’s members [and future candidates].

(5) Lord Krsna will accept a devotee who strictly follows the bona fide and suitable method prescribed in Srila Prabhupada’s various books and literatures.

Conclusion: Every member of the movement makes spiritual advancement (becomes eligible) toward going back to Godhead by following the method Srila Prabhupada prescribes in his books. This was the case then, it is the case now and will be the case in the future. Srila Prabhupada’s books will do everything.

“I am the Spiritual Master of this institution, and all the members of the Society, they’re supposed to be my disciples. They follow the rules and regulations which I ask them to follow, and they are initiated by me spiritually.” (Srila Prabhupada Radio Interview, 12 March 1968, San Francisco)

“These are not ordinary books. It is recorded chanting. Anyone who reads, he is hearing.” (Letter 19/10/74)

“In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop.” (Letter — 22/11/74)

“Diksa is the process by which one can awaken his transcendental knowledge and vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity.” (C.c. Madhya, 15.108, purport)

“There is no difference between the spiritual master’s instructions and the spiritual master himself.” (C.c. Adi-lila 1.35, purport)

“Every one of you must regularly read our books at least twice, in the morning and evening, and automatically all questions will be answered.” (Letter — 24/01/70)

“Inquiries and submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding. Unless there is submission and service, inquiries from the learned spiritual master will not be effective. One must be able to pass the test of the spiritual master, and when he sees the genuine desire of the disciple, he automatically blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual understanding.” (Bg 4.34 purport)

“So diksa means the initiation to begin transcendental activities. That is called initiation. Therefore we take promise from the disciple that “You chant so many times,” “Yes, sir.” “You observe these rules and regulations,” “Yes, sir.” That is initiation. He has to observe; he has to chant. Then everything comes automatically.” (Lecture SB 6.1.15 — February 22, 1973)

“After 80 years, no one can be expected to live long. My life is almost ended. So you have to carry on, and these books will do everything.” (Room conversation, 18/2/76)

Reporter: Who will succeed you when you die?

Srila Prabhupada: I will never die!

Devotees: Jaya! Haribol!

Srila Prabhupada: I will live forever from my books and you will utilise. (Interview, Berkley, 17/7/75)

“My first business is to give the devotees the proper knowledge and engage them in devotional service, so that is not very difficult task for you, I have given you everything, so read and speak from the books and so many new lights will come out.We have got so many books, so if we go on preaching from them for the next 1,000 years, there is enough stock. Just like we have spent one day discussing one sloka, so you introduce this system in all of the temples, and very quickly the devotees will make spiritual progress by getting knowledge.” (Letter — Los Angeles 16 June, 1972)

“Compared to the American population, what percentage we have got? Still they have made some impression, the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement. Literatures are selling, they are appreciating, learned circle. Takes some time, but if we stick to our principles and do not make any compromise and push on-in this way, I have given you instruction, it will never stop; it will go on. It will never stop. At least for ten thousand years it will go on.” (Car Conversation — New Vrindavan — June 21, 1976)

One thought on “Srila Prabhupada Gives Diksa Through His Books – 10,000 Years”

There is a devotee named Vaikuntanatha Das who lives in San Francisco, who has given testimony that he once asked Srila Prabhupada in 1972 in Vrindavan how people who get his books but never get initiated, will go back to Godhead. The reply from Srila Prabhupada was that by reading his books they are already initiated.